Polo & Coaching -
Circa 1923 - British Sports and Sportsmen, London - First Edition. Royal Edition, limited to 250 copies, of which this is number 221.
A massive scarce and sumptuously bound work, one of only 250 copies of the ‘Royal Edition’, and enhanced by over 450 illustrations from photographs, paintings and sketches. The original subscriber for this copy was Edward Coleby Ransome O.B.E. (1864-1939) whose name has been blocked in gilt to the front board. Ransome, Cambridge educated, a crack shot, representing England in rifle shooting, was Mayor of Ipswich, Suffolk.
With contributions from Major-General Vaughan, T. Levins Moore, Gordon Withers, Major Hesseltine, Major-General Pitman, Keith Marsham, Lieut.-General Sir Michael Rimington, Lieut.-Colonel Nickalls, Osgold Cross, F.P.P. Rouse, “Bronco” and “Rissala”.
The majority of this work covers Polo, describing the origins of the game its history in India, Ireland, and England, tactics and rules, as well as short biographical notes on players. The last part gives a history of coaching, which, with the introduction of railways, had become more of a sporting recreation usually involving marathon distances with a carriage (coach) and team of horses.
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Price HK$ 6,000
Circa 1923 - British Sports and Sportsmen, London - First Edition. Royal Edition, limited to 250 copies, of which this is number 221.
A massive scarce and sumptuously bound work, one of only 250 copies of the ‘Royal Edition’, and enhanced by over 450 illustrations from photographs, paintings and sketches. The original subscriber for this copy was Edward Coleby Ransome O.B.E. (1864-1939) whose name has been blocked in gilt to the front board. Ransome, Cambridge educated, a crack shot, representing England in rifle shooting, was Mayor of Ipswich, Suffolk.With contributions from Major-General Vaughan, T. Levins Moore, Gordon Withers, Major Hesseltine, Major-General Pitman, Keith Marsham, Lieut.-General Sir Michael Rimington, Lieut.-Colonel Nickalls, Osgold Cross, F.P.P. Rouse, “Bronco” and “Rissala”.
The majority of this work covers Polo, describing the origins of the game its history in India, Ireland, and England, tactics and rules, as well as short biographical notes on players. The last part gives a history of coaching, which, with the introduction of railways, had become more of a sporting recreation usually involving marathon distances with a carriage (coach) and team of horses.
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Price HK$ 6,000
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Inscribed -
Maya Angelou
1969 - Random House, New York - First Edition
A fine first edition signed and inscribed by Maya Angelou: ‘Joy! The caged bird sings of freedom.’
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ marks the first volume in what would ultimately become a seven volume autobiography. It was written in the months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on 4 April 1968 - coincidentally, also Maya Angelou's birthday - at the suggestion of James Baldwin, as a way of working through her grief and depression over King's death. Baldwin would later call the resulting work "a Biblical study of life in the midst of death." Its themes of identity, racism, trauma, and literacy led to equal parts acclaim and criticism, with the book hailed as one of the greatest works of biography ever produced by an American author and one of the most frequently banned or challenged books in the United States.
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Price HK$ 30,000
1969 - Random House, New York - First Edition
A fine first edition signed and inscribed by Maya Angelou: ‘Joy! The caged bird sings of freedom.’‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ marks the first volume in what would ultimately become a seven volume autobiography. It was written in the months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on 4 April 1968 - coincidentally, also Maya Angelou's birthday - at the suggestion of James Baldwin, as a way of working through her grief and depression over King's death. Baldwin would later call the resulting work "a Biblical study of life in the midst of death." Its themes of identity, racism, trauma, and literacy led to equal parts acclaim and criticism, with the book hailed as one of the greatest works of biography ever produced by an American author and one of the most frequently banned or challenged books in the United States.
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Price HK$ 30,000
Modern Confectionary; Containing Receipts for Drying and Candying, Confits, Cakes, Preserves, Liqueurs, Ices, Jellies, Creams, Sponges, Pastes, Potted Meats, Pickles, Wines, Etc. Etc. Etc. By the Author of “Modern Cookery” -
Anon
1833 - Printed by and for Henry Mozley and Sons, Derby - Second Edition
A finely bound rare early nineteenth century compilation of recipes including deserts, cakes, biscuits, pickles, relish, wines. Most likely compiled from numerous sources by Eliza Acton, who has been described as the first modern cookery writer, preceding Mrs Beeton by several years. Delia Smith has called her ‘the best writer of recipes in the English language’.
Chapters are: Drying and Candying; Lozenges and Confits, Cakes, Biscuits, etc.; Puddings; Preserves; Sirups, Liqueurs, and Waters; Ices; Jellies; Creams, Custards, etc.; Sponges; Patties, Pastes, etc.; Potted Meats; Pickles, Catsups, etc.; Observations on British Wine.
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Price HK$ 3,000
1833 - Printed by and for Henry Mozley and Sons, Derby - Second Edition
A finely bound rare early nineteenth century compilation of recipes including deserts, cakes, biscuits, pickles, relish, wines. Most likely compiled from numerous sources by Eliza Acton, who has been described as the first modern cookery writer, preceding Mrs Beeton by several years. Delia Smith has called her ‘the best writer of recipes in the English language’.Chapters are: Drying and Candying; Lozenges and Confits, Cakes, Biscuits, etc.; Puddings; Preserves; Sirups, Liqueurs, and Waters; Ices; Jellies; Creams, Custards, etc.; Sponges; Patties, Pastes, etc.; Potted Meats; Pickles, Catsups, etc.; Observations on British Wine.
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Price HK$ 3,000
The Complete Works - Sense and Sensibility; Pride and Prejudice; Mansfield Park; Emma; Northanger Abbey and Persuasion; Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Letters -
Jane Austen
1911-12 - John Grant, Edinburgh - The Winchester Edition
‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.'
An elegantly bound twelve volume set, comprising all of Austen's works. With a portrait frontispiece to first volume, and title pages printed in red and black with a vignette 'JA' monogram.
‘Affectation of candour is common enough—one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone.’
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Price HK$ 35,000
1911-12 - John Grant, Edinburgh - The Winchester Edition
‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.'An elegantly bound twelve volume set, comprising all of Austen's works. With a portrait frontispiece to first volume, and title pages printed in red and black with a vignette 'JA' monogram.
‘Affectation of candour is common enough—one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone.’
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Price HK$ 35,000
A Portfolio of Drawings Illustrating Salome by Oscar Wilde -
Aubrey Beardsley
1912 - John Lane, London
Aubrey Beardsley was just 21 years old when he produced the drawings for Oscar Wilde's play Salome. They were first published in The Studio magazine in 1893. These illustrations launched Beardsley from obscurity to international fame almost overnight. More importantly, they marked the beginning of a new era in the arts: these are commonly held to be the first works to develop an Art Nouveau style.
This scarce portfolio contains sixteen large black and white plates of the Salome illustrations, together with a separate list of plates, all printed on Japanese vellum, and loose as issued [plates size 34.2 x 26.9 cm]. Without the ‘Design for Title Page’ plate.
Housed in publisher's portfolio of half cream vellum over olive green paper boards, front panel titled in gilt ‘Aubrey Beardsley’s Illustrations to Salome’ and with the Beardsley designed rose-bush motif from the 1894 edition blocked in rose gold.
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Price HK$ 12,000
1912 - John Lane, London
Aubrey Beardsley was just 21 years old when he produced the drawings for Oscar Wilde's play Salome. They were first published in The Studio magazine in 1893. These illustrations launched Beardsley from obscurity to international fame almost overnight. More importantly, they marked the beginning of a new era in the arts: these are commonly held to be the first works to develop an Art Nouveau style.This scarce portfolio contains sixteen large black and white plates of the Salome illustrations, together with a separate list of plates, all printed on Japanese vellum, and loose as issued [plates size 34.2 x 26.9 cm]. Without the ‘Design for Title Page’ plate.
Housed in publisher's portfolio of half cream vellum over olive green paper boards, front panel titled in gilt ‘Aubrey Beardsley’s Illustrations to Salome’ and with the Beardsley designed rose-bush motif from the 1894 edition blocked in rose gold.
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Price HK$ 12,000
The Works of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte -
Anne, Charlotte & Emily Brontë
1893 - J.M. Dent and Company, London
An elegantly bound twelve volume set of the Brontë sisters works, each volume with a decorated title page and frontispiece, and two further black and white illustrated plates by Greig and Tilney (three to volume I).
Presented in a matching navy fleece-lined slipcase with ribbon-pull.
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Price HK$ 25,000
1893 - J.M. Dent and Company, London
An elegantly bound twelve volume set of the Brontë sisters works, each volume with a decorated title page and frontispiece, and two further black and white illustrated plates by Greig and Tilney (three to volume I).Presented in a matching navy fleece-lined slipcase with ribbon-pull.
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Price HK$ 25,000
Crime Collection - 24 Volumes -
Agatha Christie
1969-1972 - Paul Hamlyn, London - First Edition Thus
The works by the ‘Queen of Crime’ - 72 novels and short story collections stunningly hand-bound in twenty four volumes (three titles per volume). An eye-catching and comprehensive set including all the elusive early titles, from The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd to Hallowe'en Party and Passenger to Frankfurt.
The only major collection of Christie's novels to date, issued as a set for subscribers and endorsed by Agatha Christie. It includes all the published crime novels up to 1970, and features Agatha Christie’s foreword and facsimile signature in the first volume.
Christie’s works have stood the test of time. In 2013, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best crime novel ever by 600 fellow writers of the Crime Writers' Association, and she is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling novelist of all time, her novels have sold an estimated two billion copies, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books, behind Shakespeare's works and the Bible. They have been translated into over 100 languages, with and Then There Were None selling over 100 million copies (as at 2014), making it the world’s best selling mystery ever.
Reference: Haycraft, Murder for Pleasure 129.
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Price HK$ 50,000
1969-1972 - Paul Hamlyn, London - First Edition Thus
The works by the ‘Queen of Crime’ - 72 novels and short story collections stunningly hand-bound in twenty four volumes (three titles per volume). An eye-catching and comprehensive set including all the elusive early titles, from The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd to Hallowe'en Party and Passenger to Frankfurt.The only major collection of Christie's novels to date, issued as a set for subscribers and endorsed by Agatha Christie. It includes all the published crime novels up to 1970, and features Agatha Christie’s foreword and facsimile signature in the first volume.
Christie’s works have stood the test of time. In 2013, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best crime novel ever by 600 fellow writers of the Crime Writers' Association, and she is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling novelist of all time, her novels have sold an estimated two billion copies, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books, behind Shakespeare's works and the Bible. They have been translated into over 100 languages, with and Then There Were None selling over 100 million copies (as at 2014), making it the world’s best selling mystery ever.
Reference: Haycraft, Murder for Pleasure 129.
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Price HK$ 50,000
The Sittaford Mystery -
Agatha Christie
1931 - Published for The Crime Club Ltd. by W. Collins Sons & Co Ltd, London - First English Edition
An exquisitely bound first edition of this rare Christie first edition, one of the earliest Crime Club books by Collins.
‘In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a small table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: ‘Captain Trevelyan… dead… murder.’
Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snow drifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot’.
A bleak case, set in Christie's native Devon, against the rugged backdrop of Dartmoor in Winter with its looming menace, which adds, as in Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', an extra personality and depth to the proceedings.
Named after the Sittaford 'Tor' (Celtic for rocky peak) where the author penned her first novel 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles'.
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Price HK$ 22,000
1931 - Published for The Crime Club Ltd. by W. Collins Sons & Co Ltd, London - First English Edition
An exquisitely bound first edition of this rare Christie first edition, one of the earliest Crime Club books by Collins. ‘In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a small table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: ‘Captain Trevelyan… dead… murder.’
Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snow drifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot’.
A bleak case, set in Christie's native Devon, against the rugged backdrop of Dartmoor in Winter with its looming menace, which adds, as in Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', an extra personality and depth to the proceedings.
Named after the Sittaford 'Tor' (Celtic for rocky peak) where the author penned her first novel 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles'.
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Price HK$ 22,000